EXTRA DAYS AT TAKAPAU.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 4829, 6 May 1914, Page 5

EXTRA DAYS AT TAKAPAU.

WHO IS TO BLAME? POSITION ON THE RAILWAY. One cause of grievance that led up to the riotous scenes at Takapau is that the men were not informed of the fact that they would be required to spend extra days in camp because the transport arrangements would not permit of an earlier departure. The Railway Department points out that from the outset it was made clear to ‘the Defence authorities that the holding of large camps in the various centres practieally simultaneously would make very heavy demands on the resources of the Railway Department, and. after careful enquiries as to the number of men, horses, guns, and other equipments that would have to be carried and handled, the Department drew up a time-table, copies of which were supplied to the Defence Department, at the same time directing attention to the fact that the magnitude of the arrangements was such that they must be closely adhered to ,and that in the case of the Takapau camp it was impracticable to convey the men into and fronj the camp on any day except Sundays. The Railway Department is opposed as a general rule, to Sunday running, but in this instance it had no option. For the Takapau •camp alone over 300 trucks, 150 carriages and 57 locomotives are in use to take the men to and from the camp. It is not practicable to withdraw rolling stock for the purpose from the Auckland district, where another camp is in progress, and which adds materially to the demands made on the Department. As a matter of fact, the movement of troops to and from the Takapau camp involves the utilisation of nearly all the available locomotives in the Wellington district, and it is obvious (the Department points out) that a camp can only be shifted on a day when the Department has not to meet ordinary business requirements of the community. That day is Sunday. It may be added, for purposes of illustration. that the vehicles used in shifting the Takapau camp represent a carrying capacity of 100.000 tons.